Being part of a band is an amazing adventure. This is especially true if you are a drummer. The most important role of the drummer, as you probably know, is creating, implementing, and maintaining the beat of the song. However, as with anything in life and hobbies, for you to perform at an optimal level as a drummer, you would need the best available tools in your bag. Whether you are a beginner like me or an advanced drummer, a good set of sound isolating earphones can absolutely do wonders for your gig as you would be mainly multitasking as a drummer. You have to keep the steady beat for your band members as well as dealing with the extreme and constant noise around you, so it's a good idea to invest in a good pair of best available headphones for drumming. Bear in mind, to protect your hearing and improve the quality of your drumming, you would need headphones with an excellent high-quality sound isolation that's designed to fit comfortably around your ears. It could take forever to find the top quality models mainly because there is a lot of information out there. But as luck beckons, we at WiredShopper, set out on a journey of testing 60 of the current models in the market and tested them to find the ones that will come through the test of time.Hopefully, the information and reviews below will help you in your hunt for the best headphones that can take your drumming career to the next level.
Factors To Consider
When you choose potential headphones for your drumming exploits, it’s important to pick the one that can provide clear, crisp, and balanced sound. You should also opt for excellent noise cancellation or isolation that will maintain lower volume level so your eardrums won’t burst open from the rock ‘n’ roll music. Keep in mind that low-quality headphones can harm your ears. You want ultra isolation headphones that can be wrapped comfortably around your ears so you would be able to play for a long period of time without developing any rashes or pain around your ear. Another factor to consider is that these headphones will require external amplifiers to deliver the best sound output. We suggest you to invest in a proper link cable that will provide adequate comfort so that you can immerse yourself in music without feeling like all wired up robot. After all, if the cable is too long or too short, you run the risk of getting headaches.
Therefore, it’s worthwhile to take into account the set up and position you usually are part of when you decide to go shopping for new headphones. Some use the headphones for specific music types like rock, classical & some use it for strumming their guitars and play piano so have a read and make an informed choice!
Best Headphones For Drummers That Money Can Buy!
Sennheiser HD280 Pro -Leader In Drumming Headphones!
If you want something comfortable that you can wear for a long period of time during your drum session, then Sennheiser HD280 Pro is the one for you. It is stable, built with strong and high-quality material, accurate, and provide excellent noise cancellation functionality. Plus, it also has a rotating ear cups which makes this an excellent headphone to have while you drum your heart out. It probably is the best headphone available for music production out there as well
Construction
This headphone is made of high-quality plastic that is very tough and durable. You can also change the headband padding to make it more appealing and comfortable for you to use. Plus, these headphones can fit all sizes. You know how annoying it is that some headphones are too big or too small so it can cause pain and headache while using it throughout the day. However, with this one, they make the headphones very versatile and comfortable so fits on any size. That means you can do a long drumming session with your bandmates without any pain. Another reason to get these attractive headphones is the rotating ear tips and the one-sided cable. The cord is around 1 mm long and can extend to a maximum of 3 mm. It has a 3.5 MM Jack with a 6.3 stereo adapter.
Sound Quality
If you love loud music, then this is the headphone to get. The extremely advanced technology provides high-quality noise isolation function and is a major benefit to help reduce eardrum perforation to enhance your drumming experience. The headphone also has low and flat response, and clear crisp sounds to maximize the rhythm and beat from your drum. If you combined this bad boy with a high-end speaker, and an ear monitor, then it can totally change your drumming life to the ultimate level. If you want to get the most out of this 60 40 HM impedance headphone, it’s best to use an external amplifier.
Sound Isolation
The sound isolation on this headphone is amazing. It can attenuate up to 32 DB which makes it an ideal choice for loud music while maintaining a lower volume. When you put this headphone on, you could barely hear yourself talk.
Pros & Cons
The great part about this headphone is that it’s comfortable, have a durable cord that connects up to 3 mm, and excellent noise isolation functionality. The main problem with the headset is that you cannot replace the cord. That means if you lose it, then there goes your headphones. It’s not a good fit for a mobile device, which can be pretty annoying if you want to listen to music from your iPhone.
Conclusion
I would definitely choose these headphones over the other varieties of ear headphones if we were doing an extreme rock in roll type of music. After all, the headphone does a great job to lower the sound volume and to ensure that the sound quality is clear and crisp. However, if we were playing some soothing and mellow music, then it might not be a good idea to have such headphones.
Overall, this high-quality headphone does exceed expectation. It's affordable, comfortable, and provides quality sound experience. Therefore This type of headphone is highly recommended for drummers who love extreme rock ‘n’ roll bands.
Shure SRH840
This is a very elegant and classy type of headphones. If you are a drummer who is constantly practiced in the studio, then Shure SRH840 is for you. However, if you want something to carry around with you on your iPhone, then this might not be the tool to have. It comes with a removable cable and a 6.3 mm stereo adapter. It also has a nice, caring bag with some ear pads for additional accessories and comfort.
Construction
These headphones are really big, and it might slip off of your head easily. The coil cable makes it adequate for studio drumming section. It may not be ideal for the iPhone user, but it does wonders for drumming. It has a replaceable phone with leather pads and high-quality durability. It also has some unique cables that come out of the air cup. The headphones are foldable and can fit comfortably in the handbag.
Sound Quality
Shure headphones provide a clear and crisp sound which is very warm and soothing. This makes them a more unique and interesting headphone to have for a drumming session. Because it's big and relaxes over your head, it doesn’t give you a serious vibe, in fact, it provides a mellow and chill style for the drummer. The sound quality has a 102 DB sensitivity with a 44 impedance. It is highly recommended to use this with an external amplifier.
Sound Isolation
Since this headphone is a close back type, it means that it can significantly reduce the amount of noise from your drumming session. In addition, the comfortable padding can provide warmth and comfort to your ears. The good part is that if you have to play in a noisy environment, the headphones can cover up the environmental noise without having to increase the sound volume.
Pros & Cons
The nice part about this headphone is that it has replaceable cables so you won’t have to throw the whole thing away if you lose the cable. It provides excellent sound isolation and clear, crisp, and warm mid-range volume. The problem with this headphone is that it’s heavy, large, and has a weird design. If it’s too large and heavy, it can easily slip off of the drummer’s head.
Conclusion
The only problem I have with this type of headset is that if I am drumming and feeling the music, sometimes my head will go back-and-forth, and the headphones will fall off. Because it keeps falling off, it tends to be very annoying. However, it does provide high-quality sound volume and comfortable pads for my ears.
This headphone that provides a classy and elegant sound system. It can reduce the background noise which gives a warm and ideal functionality in the studio environment. However, it might not be a good idea to use them with your iPhone or to take them out. The only problem with this headphone is that it keeps slipping off my head.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
If you are constantly in the studio, and recording your drum session, then Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is the headphone to get. It is one of the best headphones for drummers who need to have long recording sessions in a constant basis. It has a 3 mm cable and allows you to move around without getting tangled up. They are perfect for rehearsals, recording sessions, or just watching Netflix. They are comfortable and provide excellent noise cancellation for any crazy environment.
Construction
This headphone contains a close back, bass reflex technology, and can produce high to middle range volume. It is perfect for any metal headband. The headphone is big, comfy, and sturdy and holds tightly onto your head, so it doesn’t come off. That means you can drum for a long period of time while bobbing your head back-and-forth without any fear that your headphones could fall off. The 770 ear cups are made from excellent quality plastic. The ear cups also contains comfortable pads that in circles your whole ear to provide comfort and isolation.
Sound Quality
The headphone delivers an amazing frequency of 5 to 35 HZ. This is the best choice that you can make to enhance your drumming experience. The 45 mm drivers are highly adaptable to any audio monitoring purposes. Plus, the headphone works perfectly well with any laptops or mobile phones. That means you can listen to music while you’re on the go.
Sound Isolation
This killer headphone has noise isolation of over 35 DB. The noise cancellation combining with the comfortable fit can do wonders for your drumming experience.
Pros & Cons
The great part about this headphone is that it has an amazing noise cancellation feature, comfortable to wear for a long period of time, and provide a balance, clear, and crisp sound system. The only issue is that it’s very big and bulky and have non-replaceable cable.
Conclusion
This is a highly recommended headphone. First, it's comfortably over my head without falling off. Secondly, it provides amazing noise canceling features. Third, it provides a clean and clear quality sound during my whole drumming recording session. Overall, I give this a five-star review.
The overall quality of this headphone is phenomenal. It provides a comfortable fit, quality sound system, excellent sound isolation, and is the best thing that a drummer can have. If you are going to be in the recording session for a long period of time, this is definitely the headphone to have while you drum the night away.
Vic Firth VF SIH1
If you have sensitive ears, then Vic Firth VF SIH1 is probably god-send for you. It has amazing and high-quality noise cancellation functionality. It can help significantly reduce the noise from the background and the drumming session. This will protect your ears from perforation or any other issues. After all, one of the biggest issue with being a drummer is experiencing constant loud noise from the sound system and the background. This can lead to tinnitus and hearing loss. However, with this headphone on your team, you can definitely protect your ears. It’s an affordable headphone that provides both comfort and quality sound system.
Construction
The headphone is very comfortable and fits well on anyone’s head. It may look kind of cheap and rusty, but rest of sure it’s made of high-quality material. It has a cord length of 2 m long, but if you like, you can get a cable extender to plug into it.
Sound Quality
This headphone has an impressively wide dynamic range. The sound is not very loud, but that is merely because of the isolation quality. It has a large 50 mm driver along with a 30 20HM impedance. You can use this in any laptop and mobile devices.
Sound Isolation
The USP of this headphone is its noise cancellation capabilities. It could significantly reduce the noise to up to 24 DB. If you are in a noisy environment or a drumming session, nothing can get through this headphone. In fact, since a lot of noise cancellation headphones are very expensive, this is the cheapest one that you will get with such amazing quality.
Pros & Cons
The great part about this headphone is that it provides a very good sound system, affordable, and excellent noise isolation system. The only problem is that it looks pretty cheap because of its plastic material, can get sweaty, and the headbands can get too tight.
Conclusion
I highly recommend this headphone for any drummer who are on a budget. This affordable high-quality headphone can be helpful for reducing any type of noise out there and also provide a good subtle sound system for you. If you don’t mind how it looks, then you will not regret getting this.
This headphone provides a decent and excellent noise cancellation function for just under ~$50, now how awesome is that. If you are on a budget and need an extra pair of headphones for your drumming session, then this is the product to get.
KAT Percussion KTUI26
These lightweight headphones are a dream come true. Especially if you are a picky drummer that prefers a wide dynamic range to choose from. KAT Percussion KTUI26 is engineered to have phenomenal sound isolation system. It can cancel noise up to 26 DB. However, the headphones can easily break so be very careful.
Construction
The headphone is very delicate and can break under the slightest stress, so be cautious. However, it’s light weight makes it very comfortable to wear for a long period of time. This is mainly because of the large ear cushion that is made of light foam material. Because of its lightweight, it’s comfort level is to the max. This elegant headphone has a 1.8 m link cable, which is shorter than all the other headphones for drummers.
Sound Quality
It has a 40 mm dynamic speaker that creates a flat output. This provides a wide dynamic range for the drummer. It has a frequency response of 20 Hz. This is a highly recommended headphone for the studio environment and your mobile device.
Sound Isolation
The headphone has an amazing noise reduction of up to 26 DB. This means that it works very well with any noisy environment.
Pros & Cons
The excellent part about this product is that it provides a wide dynamic range, excellent noise cancellation function, and lightweight and comfort. The issue is that it’s too big and can fall off easily, not suitable for the outside environment, and it has an extremely short cable.
Conclusion
This an amazing lightweight headphone that provides comfort throughout the day. It’ pretty good to have for drummers who love wide dynamic range and works great for electronic drums. Plus, they can significantly reduce the noise so you won’t experience any ear pain or hearing loss. Therefore, it is highly recommended for any drummer who wants something light and high-quality.
This is a very affordable headphone at a price below ~$70. It provides a pretty amazing drumming experience with wide dynamic range, comfortable fit, and superior noise cancellation system.
Final Verdict
When it comes to finding the right headphones, we all have our preferences. That means a certain brand of headphones that does wonders for one drummer might not be very good for the other or vice versa. Therefore, you have to ask yourself what you want. If you want something affordable as low as $50, you can definitely try the VIC Firth isolation headphones. However, if you want something that is high-quality and provides a comprehensive function, then it’s best to invest in the Sennheiser HD 280 pro. This is merely because this type of headphone provides amazing noise cancellation system, long durable cords, comfortable fit, and clear flat output. Overall, it really depends on what you prioritize. It might be a good idea to do some research, and check out the reviews before picking a potential headphones or ear monitors.
Our View & AfterThought
When it comes to providing the best performance of your life, it’s essential for every drummer to invest in a high-quality headphone. This is because the drummer is constantly playing in a large crowd, recording in the studio, or practicing. Because he or she is exposed to a lot of sounds, it can be very detrimental to their ears. A lot of times, a low-quality headphone might not be enough to protect the drummer’s ear. This can lead to tinnitus, ear pain, and perforation. Another thing Is that it is imperative for the drummer to look for comfort in their headphones. Headphones with extremely small ear pads may not be able to encompass the whole ear to provide an adaptable fit and to thoroughly protect the ear. Uncomfortable headphones can be a headache and can cause rashes and irritation around the ears. Keep in mind that the foam and the pads do play a huge role in providing long-lasting comfort.
Another thing is that the construction of the headphone should not be too big or too loose. Even as a drummer, your head and body will be moving a lot, so the last thing you want is a headphone that keeps falling off. In addition, your headphones should have long enough cord or the opportunity to extend the cord. Because of all these factors, It’s imperative to do thorough research on each brand of headphones before deciding which one is right for you. Even after you purchase a headphone, it’s best to wear them for a couple of days and see how they fit and work. If you don’t like them, then you can return them and get another brand. Keep in mind that the right headphone can definitely make or break your druming career.
FAQs:
What do drummers listen to with their headphones?
The drummers are always listening to click tracks to synchronize to the beats of the pre-recorded sections. This makes it possible for the band to perform live sessions with the tracks.
How do drummers manage hearing loss?
Drummers report hearing loss instances, but with the noise cancellation features on the headphones, it is now easy to eliminate the distracting sound and only listen to the specific sound the drummer needs. This protects the ears from damage. Additionally, drummers do not wear the headphones for extended hours, which allows the ears to relax before the next band session.
Can I use the drumming headphones for music from my tablet?
Well, drumming headphones are high-quality headphones with everything you need for quality sound. Therefore, the headphone will work with your tablet and deliver the best sound from your playlist.
Is it easy to use drumming headphones?
The headphones come with manuals for quick fixing to your preferred music set. You'll then tune them to help you get the rhythm for the music. Ensure you read the guide comprehensively to understand how the features like noise-canceling work.